Avowed's Developers Insist It's Not Another Skyrim Clone – Here's What Makes It Unique

For the third time in a year, developers at Obsidian Entertainment have firmly stated that their upcoming RPG, Avowed, is not akin to Skyrim. This assertion reminds me of a hilarious prank interview where Dominic Monaghan bombarded Elijah Wood with repeated questions, turning a simple denial into an exhausting exercise. Yet, the constant comparisons to Skyrim aren’t entirely baseless, as even Obsidian's CEO indicated early development pitches aimed to create something, in essence, close to Skyrim.

In a recent interview with GameInformer, Avowed's game director, Carrie Patel, made clear that the best comparison for the forthcoming RPG would be The Outer Worlds. Patel pointed out that Avowed shares more similarities with its prior title in terms of scope, design, and layout. Contrary to the expansive open world of Skyrim, Avowed aims to offer players smaller, interconnected zones that pack a dense punch rather than just a wide berth.

Additionally, in terms of quest and narrative structure, Avowed mirrors The Outer Worlds rather than Skyrim. This design choice could cater to fans who enjoy procedural storytelling and more concentrated bursts of content. Furthermore, Patel highlighted that the actual story elements in Avowed will resonate more with the serious political undertones found in Pillars of Eternity: Deadfire while interwoven with mystical and divine themes.

If you’re a fan of greatly detailed narratives, Patel's mentions of character-based storytelling infused with moments of levity should be music to your ears. Indeed, Obsidian appears keen on enriching the player’s experience with varied emotional textures, something that could set Avowed apart significantly from Skyrim. Fellow director Gabe Paramo chimed in, explicitly stating that comparing different games can be misleading for both developers and gamers, as expectations can diverge dramatically from actual gameplay.

As excitement around Avowed builds, the developers' insistence on differentiating their title from Skyrim is understandable. Even though Obsidian's CEO initially painted the game as a creation aiming to capture the essence of Skyrim, clear efforts have been made to manage expectations. This approach echoes their experience with The Outer Worlds, often dubbed 'Fallout in space,' drawing unintentional but inevitable comparisons.

Ultimately, while Avowed may visually remind players of Skyrim due to its first-person RPG framework, it's positioned to offer a unique blend of dense world-building and narrative complexity unattached to Bethesda's sprawling landscapes. Obsidian's repeated clarifications aim to set the record straight: Avowed is its creation, standing distinct from Skyrim's colossal shadow. As the release date approaches, potentially in November, gamers can look forward to experiencing what this ambitious and distinctly crafted RPG truly has to offer.